A.—2

58

On this latter point Her Majesty's Government regret that there should be any difficulty on his part in accepting the offer of the New Zealand Government, which appears to be made in a fair spirit of conciliation. I have, &c, EDWAED STANHOPE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., 0.8., &c.

No. 76. (New Zealand, No. 58.) Sib, — Downing Street, 7th August, 1886. With reference to your Despatch No. 32, of the 17th of May last, relating to the recognition in the United Kingdom of certificates for passenger steamers issued by the Marine Department of New Zealand, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith, for your information and for that of your Government, a cop}^ of a letter from the Board of Trade, with its enclosures, on the subject. I have, &c, EDWAED STANHOPE. Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c.

A.-l, 1887, No, 0.

Enclosures. Sir, — Board of Trade, Marine Department, London, S.W., 20th July, 1886. I am directed by the Board of Trade to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 14th instant, transmitting, by direction of Earl Granville, a copy of a despatch received from the Governor of New Zealand relative to the recognition in the United Kingdom of certificates for passenger steamers issued by the Marine Department of the colony, and, in reply, to forward, for his Lordship's information, the accompanying copy of a letter upon the subject, dated the 24th March last, which they have received from the Marine Department of New Zealand, together with a copy of this Board's reply thereto, dated the 24th ultimo. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Thomas Geay.

Sib, — Marine Department, Wellington, 24th March, 1886. A copy of Mr. Gray's letter of the 22nd January last, addressed to the Uiider-Secrotary of State, Colonial Office, with reference to the application made by this department that the inspections of passenger steamships by its surveyors might be recognized by the Board of Trade in the United Kingdom, has been received through His Excellency the Governor, and a reply thereto has been transmitted, through the same channel, to the effect that the surveyors of ships acting under this department carry out their duties under the printed instructions issued by the Board of Trade as to the survey of the hull, equipments, and machinery of steamships carrying passengers. His Excellency has been asked to represent, at the same time, that the Government of New Zealand would feel obliged if the Board of Trade would therefore cause the requisite steps to be taken under the 17th section of "The Merchant Shipping Act, 1876," for securing the recognition in the United Kingdom of certificates for passenger steamers issued in this colony. In order that the fullest information may be before the Board of Trade as to the procedure of this department in respect of the surveys in question, I beg to forward herewith a copy of " The Shipping and Seamen's Act, 1877," under authority of which those surveys are made, together with copies of the survey declaration and passenger certificate, which latter documents, I understand, are identical with those used by the Board of Trade. The instructions under which our surveyors act are those which were printed by Messrs. Pewtress and Co. in 1883 by authority of the Board of Trade. I observe that the official copy of instructions forwarded with the letter quoted above is of a later date. I should feel obliged if you would be good enough to cause me to be supplied with six copies of the latest instructions, and allow copies of any future additions thereto, or amendments, to be sent to this office, in order that the surveys in New Zealand may be strictly conducted on the same lines as those made by the Board of Trade officers. I have, &c, William Seed. The Assistant-Secretary, Marine Department, Board of Trade, London, S.W.

Sir, — Board of Trade (Marine Department), London, S.W., 24th June, 1886. I am directed by the Board of Trade to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 24th March last, requesting that the necessary steps may be taken for securing the recognition in the United Kingdom of certificates for passenger steamships granted in New Zealand, and asking to be supplied with six copies of the ■'latest instructions issued by this department respecting the survey of passenger steamers. In reply, I am to transmit to you the-accompanying draft Order in Council, and to state that, before submitting the same for Her Majesty's approval, they will be glad if you will be so good as to inform them whether the Government of New Zealand will be prepared to have the instructions